Advertising device



E. H. PHILIPP l ADVERTISING DEVICE Oct. 1, 1935.

Filed Jan. 20, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1935- E. H. PHILIPPI ADVERTISING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 20, 1952 JAN 13 XYZ K l I l l l I l l l I l I I l l ll.

COUPON 2 D FOR 10 1N TRADE GOOD Edi/[2rd W/2% Patented Oct. 1, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in advertising devices and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device in the nature of a calendar clock Which at desired intervals of time projects a length of a strip which bears on one side, the date and the other matter relating to the commodity advertised and which on its other side may bear a coupon having a trading value in connection with the commodity mentioned on the first mentioned side of the strip.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind which prevents withdrawal of the strip with intent to defraud, by pulling upon the strip.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device including a casing formed with suitable openings through which matter on the obverse side of the strip within the device is presented to view, the casing including a removable back having a lock element so disposed as to be positioned to the rear of the strip and only reachable for manipulation to open the casing after the strip has been exhausted so as to clear said opening.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind which may be produced at a substantially low cost and which is positive and accurate in its operation and is practically fool and fraud proof.

The above mentioned objects of the invention together with others, as well as the many advantages thereof, will more fully appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings:-

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of an advertising device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevation thereof with the back or cover removed from the casing to more clearly show the interior construction thereof.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the same as taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a View in elevation of the obverse side of a portion of a certain strip employed in connection with my improved device.

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of the reverse side of the portion of the strip shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of a certain gear employed in the device and which will be more fully referred to later.

In general, my improved device similates a mantel or like clock in appearance, and includes a casing having a front wall and a removable rear wall or cover. In the front wall is a circular opening in which is disposed the dial of a clock. Below the dial opening is a secondary and transversely extending opening or window through which is visible the obverse face of a part or section of a strip disposed within the casing, there being other smaller and laterally spaced openings associated with said transversely extending opening through which calendar dates on said obverse face of the strip are also visible. 5

The strip which constitutes coupon or similar sections is disposed as a roll in the casing toward one end of said transverse opening. This strip passes across said transverse opening and associated date openings to engage between certain 10 feed rolls, said strip passing through guides to hold it in operative position against said openings. The feed rolls are provided with teeth and openings so that the strip is punctured as it passes between said rolls to insure a uniform and posi- 15 tive feed of the strip. The extremity of the strip projects from one side of the casing in operative position with respect to one edge against which it may be torn to remove a coupon length from the strip when projected therefrom.

The parts are so coordinated that once each desired time period, say once for each 24 hours, a coupon section length is projected from the casing and this is timed to occur preferably at a midnight hour. The feed rolls are so arranged as to be 25 locked against movement at all times except when a coupon length of the strip is to be fed, so that it is impossible to grasp the strip and pull it out through the casing opening.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of 30 the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings:l indicates as a whole the casing for the device which is open at the rear and includes a horizontal base 2, upright front and side walls 3 and 4-4 respectively, and a rounded top wall 5 connecting the top ends of the side walls together. The casing described similates a conventional clock case in appearance and in the top end of the front wall is a circular dial opening 6. Below the dial opening is a substantially large, transverse opening and between said openings are formed laterally spaced smaller openings 8, 9 and I0 respectively. All of these openings may be provided with glass if desired but this is not essential to the main features of the invention.

In line with the dial opening is a clock dial H and within the casing in a plane between that of the openings 8, 9 and. I0 and the center of the dial opening isa horizontally disposed, transversely extending partition 12. Suitably supported upon said partition is a clock motor l3 which as shown herein is an electrically driven one, current conductors M being connected thereto and leading from a suitable source of current. This motor includes the usual arbors carrying the minute and hour hands l4 and i5 and on the hour hand arbor is fixed a gear !6 which is timed to make one revolution every twelve hours. The hour hand arbor mentioned is made to receive a key 18a indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 whereby the clock may be set in case of a stop and this key may be applied through an opening in the closure for the open rear end'of the casing and which will be mentioned later,

Below the partition I2 and toward one side of the casing is a removably engaged upright shaft ll upon which is mounted the supply roll it for the strip l9 to be fed as will later appear. At the other side of the casing is a pair of up right feed rolls 2G and 2! respectively. Said feed rolls are secured to shafts 22-23 respectively which are journalled in the base 2 and a bracket 24 projecting inwardly from the associated side wall of the casing. The roll 20 which is driven as will later appear is provided at .its ends with teeth or pegs 25 which engage in recesses or openings 26 provided therefor in the like ends of roll 23. In the top end of roll 20 is a plurality of arcuately spaced roll locking recesses 25a. The strip l9 which is preferably a paper one, is divided longitudinally into sections 2'! which when removed from the strip may constitute a coupon. While these coupon sections maybe defined or separated from each other by scored or perforated lines 28 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, this is not absolutely necessary. Each section is provided on its obverse side with printed and other matter 29 referring to the matter advertised and above the same are printed matter 39 setting forth the clay and date thereof.

The matter 29 and 36 are so disposed upon each section as to appear visible through the openings 1,8, 9 and iii respectively. On the reverse side of each section is printed a coupon 3| as best shown in Fig. and which indicates that the coupon when issued from the device and detached from the strip, is of a trading value toward purchasing the article referred to on the obverse side of the same coupon section.

The strip l9 after it leaves the roll i8 is threaded behind an associated guide roll 32 suitably journalled in the casing in a manner directing the strip into close engagement with the rear face of the front wall 3. To prevent the too free action of the roll I8 I provide braking finger 33 which engages the shaft ll of said roll and this braking finger is suitably mounted upon the adjacent side wall of the casing.

Associated with the feed rolls 202l is a second guide roll 34 about which the strip passes, before it enters between the feed rolls to pass out through a slot 35 in the adjacent side wall of the casing. Associated with one side of this slot is a saw toothed-like tearing blade 36. On the rear face of the front wall 3 of the casing above and below the openings l and 8, 9 and I0 respectively are guide flanges 3i for the top and bottom margins of the strip. Thus as the strip passes from the guide roll ii to the guide roll 34 it is held in a good smooth engagement closely against the rear face of the front wall.

The open rear end of the casing is closed by a cover 38 which is locked in place by a latch means 39 carried on the base 2. This latch includes a finger 4H for entry into a notch M in a lug 42 carried on the inside of the cover. The parts are so arranged that access to the latch can only be had through the opening i in the front wall of the casing, after the entire strip l9 has been exhausted and withdrawn from the supply roll it. Thus attempts to manipulate the latch before the strip has been exhausted is made readily apparent by the torn condition of the strip and which torn condition would void the use of the coupon thus gained. As each coupon is dated and cannot be used for its intended purpose until at least the day after its date, it is apparent that such benefits as are attempted to be gained by removing more than one coupon are of no avail. 6

Means are employed between the feed rolls and the clock motor for rotating the feed roll at certain predetermined time intervals, to feed the strip l9, a distance approximating the length of a coupon section 21 and such means are as follows:'-

On the top end of the shaft 22 for the feed roll 20 is a gear pinion 43 which meshes with a segmental rack 44 on the rear face of a spur gear 45. This gear 45 is journalled on a stud shaft 46 and meshes with the gear [6 before mentioned as fixed to the hour hand arbor. The gears I6 and 45 are 'so proportioned that the gear I6 makes two revolutions for each one of the gear 45 and thus the gear 45 makes one complete revolution every 24 hours. The parts are so arranged that the rack 44 engages the pinion 43 at a time corresponding to 12 oclock midnight. In each rotation of the gear 45, the rack 44 engages the pinion 43 and thus drives the shaft 22. As the shaft carries the feed roll 20, it is apparent that the same is driven thereby and this in turn drives the other feed roll 2!. With the end portion of the endmost coupon section disposed between said feed rolls and projecting out through the slot in the adjacent side wall of the casing, it is apparent that a length of the strip comprising a coupon section is fed out through said slot, ready to be torn off against the tearing edge of the blade 34. It is pointed 35 out that the parts are so correlated that in the operation of the device, each time the rack engages and drives the pinion 43, a part of the strip l9, equal to one coupon section 2! is fed out through the slot and this takes place at the time corresponding to the hour between 12 midnight and 1 A. M. As one coupon section is thus fed out through the slot, that section bearing the day and date for the next day is brought into position for display with respect to the openings in the front wall of the casing.

Each coupon section may bear matter referring to different commodities and of course, such a coupon when delivered out through the slot 35 will have a trading value when it is desired to 50 purchase the particular commodity it advertises. Thus the device is useful in advertising a line of commodities such as groceries, meats, canned goods and the like. As each coupon section is dated and this date corresponds with the date of issuance, it is apparent that there is no incentive in working the device to fraudulently withdraw coupon sections therefrom as by pulling on the strip end that projects through the slot 35. However, to prevent and discourage such zit-' tempts, whatever be the motive, means are provided to lock the feed roll 28 against movement at all times other than the time it is intended to be driven for the purpose of issuing a coupon length of the strip l9 and such means are as follows:

A bell crank lever is pivoted at 41 on the bracket 2t and its substantially upright arm 43 is bent to be disposed in the plane of the rack 44. The horizontal arm 5!! of said lever has pivoted to its free end, a pin '5! which extends down through a part of the bracket 24 to enter one of the recesses 25a in the top end of the roll 20. A spring 52 is disposed between the upright arm 48 and an upright part of the bracket 24 to normally swing the display importance in the home.

arm 50 downwardly to engage the bottom end of the pin 5| in one of the holes 250. in the top end of the roll.

In the rotation of the gear 45, as the advancing end of the rack 44 engages the top end of the arm 48, said arm is swung clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2. In this movement of said arm, the spring 52 is compressed and the arm 5| is swung upwardly ,to withdraw the pin 5| from engagement with the recess 25a to release the roll 20. As the rack approaches the pinion 43, the top end of the arm 48 rides the periphery of said rack and is thus held in a position wherein the roll is released. Just after tripping said lever, the rack 44 engages and drives the pinion and this in turn drives the feed roll 20 to feed a coupon section of the strip 20 out through the slot 35. The top end of the arm 48 is positioned adjacent the gear 43 so that as soon as the trailing end of the rack passes the pinion,the spring 52 so acts on the arms of the bell crank lever mentioned, as to again lock the roll 20 against movement. Thus just previous to driving the roll 20, it is released for movement and just after driving the same it is again locked against movement. With such a construction it is apparent that it is impossible to withdraw a coupon section from the casing by pulling that end projecting through the slot 35.

One half of that face of the gear 45 adjacent the rear surface of the front wall of the casing is preferably colored black and the other half of said face of the gear is preferably colored white to correspond with the P. M. hours and the A. M. hours of the day and this coloring effect is best shown in Fig. 6. While I have mentioned black and white as the colors, it is apparent that any other two contrasting colors may be used in their stead. In the dial l I of the clock is provided an opening Ila apast which the gear sweeps in its rotation. These colors are so disposed on the gear that the black shows through the dial opening from 12 oclock midnight until 12 oclock noon and the white shows through said opening from 12 oclock noon to 12 oclock midnight. Thus should the clock for some purpose or other stop at 3:30 A. M. the white will show through the dial opening Ha. Should the stop occur at 8:30 P. M. then the black will show through said dial opening. Thus the operator is advised as to the stopping of the clock so that it may be reset with reference to the issuance of the next coupon length. In this manner, the dates displayed by the strip I9, through the openings 8, 9 and II], will always correspond to calendar dates.

In the feeding of the strip, it is apparent that the top and bottom margins thereof are engaged and perforated by the pins 25 on the feed roll 20. This insures an even feed of the strip, and further shows that the coupon sections were issued in the manner and for the purposes intended.

The device may be produced at such a low cost as to make it practical to be given away to the home owners and as it includes the clock features, it is assured that the device will occupy a place of Thus each day the device issues a coupon which is not only of value to the housewife for trading purposes, when shopping but is also of value in stimulating sales of the commodities thus advertised.

When the roll 18 which is made to take care of an entire year so far as dated coupon sections are concerned, becomes exhausted, new ones are provided therefor.

While in describing the invention, I have referred in detail to the form and arrangement of the parts thereof, the same is to be considered as illustrative only, so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as is specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: 5

1. A device of the kind described embodying thereina casing having a clock dial opening and display openings therein, means for holding a coupon supply strip in said casing with a portion arranged to the rear of said display openings to 10 be visible therethrough, a pair of feed rolls between Which a portion of said strip is engaged for a feeding engagement, means operable at predetermined time intervals for connecting said clock to one of said rolls for driving the same to 15 feed a coupon length of said strip out through said casing and means operable to so engage one of said rolls at times between said predetermined intervals as to lock the same against being driven.

2. A device of the kind described embodying 20 therein a casing having a clock dial opening and display openings therein, means for holding a coupon supply strip in said casing with a portion arranged to the rear of said display openings to be visible therethroug'h, a pair of feed rolls be- 25' previous to engagement with said pinion for actu- 35- ating said rolls.

3. A device of the kind described comprising therein a casing having a clock dial opening and display openings therein, means for holding a coupon supply strip in said casing with a portion arranged to the rear of said display openings to be visible therethrough, a pair of feed rolls between which a portion of said strip is engaged for a feeding engagement, a pinion associated with one of said feed rolls, means including a gear constant- 5 ly driven by the clock and formed to drive said pinion at predetermined time intervals for feeding a coupon length of said strip out through the casing and means for locking said rolls against movement between said time intervals, said means being 50 operable by said gear to release said rolls previous to engagement with said pinion for actuating said rolls.

4. A device of the kind described embodying therein a casing having a clock dial opening 55- for actuating the feed rolls to feed a coupon 65 length of said strip out through said casing and means for locking said rolls against movement at times between said predetermined time intervals, said means being operable by said gear to release said rolls previous to engagement with ml said pinion for actuating said rolls.

5. A device of the kind described embodying therein a casing having a clock dial opening and display openings therein, means for holding said gear for unlocking and lockingsaid feed roll a coupon supply strip in said casing with'a portion arranged to the rear of said display openings to be visible therethrough, a pair of feed rolls between which a portionof said strip is engaged for a feeding engagement, a'pinion asso- 'ciated with one of said feed rolls and a spur gear constantly driven by the clock and having an arcuate rack on one face thereof for engagement with said pinion to actuate the feed rolls for feeding a coupon length of said strip out through the casing.

6. A device of the kind described embodying therein a casing having a clock dial opening and display openings therein, means for'holding a coupon supply strip in said casing with a portion arranged to the rear of the display openings to be visible therethrough, a pair of feed rolls in the casing and between which a portion of said strip is engaged for a feeding engagement, means operable at predetermined intervals for operatively connecting said clock to one of said rolls for driving the same to feed a coupon length of said strip ,out through said casing and means automatic in its operation for locking said rolls against movement at times between said predetermined intervals.

'7. A device of the kind described embodying therein a casing having a clock dial opening and display openings therein, means for holding a coupon supply strip in said casing with a portion arranged to the rear of the display openings to be visible therethrough, a pair of feed rolls in the casing and between which a portion of said strip is engaged for a feeding engagement, agear constantly driven by said clock and coacting means on said gear andone of said feed rolls whereby said feed roll is driven at predetermined time intervals for feeding a coupon length of said strip, out through the casing and means for locking the feed roll against movement at times between said predetermined intervals.

8. A device of the kind described embodying therein a casing having a clock dial opening and display openings therein, means for holding a coupon supply strip in said casing with a portion arranged to the rear of the display openings to be visible therethrough, a pair of feed rolls in the casing and between which a-portion of said strip is engaged for a feeding engagement, a gear constantly driven by the clock, coacting means on said gear and one of said feed rolls whereby said feed roll is driven at predetermined time intervals for feeding a coupon length of .said

strip out through the casing, and means actu-' ated by said gearfor automatically locking said feed roll against movement just after said interval and for unlocking said feed roll just prior to said interval. 7 o

"9. A device of the kind described embodying therein a casing having a clock dial opening and display openings therein, means for holding a coupon supply strip in said casing with a portion arranged to the rear of the display openings to be visible therethrough, a pair of feed. rolls in the casing and between which a portion of said strip is engaged for a feeding engagement, a gear constantly driven by the clock, a pinion on one of said feed rolls, a segmental rack on said gear operable at predetermined time intervals for driving said pinion to actuate the feed rolls in feeding a coupon length of said strip out through the casing and means also actuated by just prior .to and after said rack has engaged said pinion. V

10. A device of the kind described embodying therein a casing .having a clock dial opening therein as well as date and display openings "5 therein, means providing a strip supply in said casing having matter including dates disposed in coupon lengths upon the obverse side thereof in a manner to register with said date and display openings respectively, said strip having value indicia upon the reverse side of each coupon length referring to the matter on the obverse side thereof and means actuated by the clock for feeding one coupon length from the casing and feeding a second coupon length into position in line 1 with said date and display openings. 7

'11. A device of the kind described embodying therein a casing open at the back and including front walls, side walls and a bottom. wall, therein being a clock dial opening and display openings in the front wall of the casing, a coupon supply strip in said casing and arranged with a portion to the rear of and visible through the display openings, means operable by the clock at predetermined intervals for feeding a coupon 5 length of said strip from said casing, a cover for closing the open rear of the casing and coacting means on said cover and one of said walls for locking said cover in place, said means being so disposed as to be accessible for manipulation,

through said display opening after the supply strip! has been exhausted.

and a second opening therein, a clock in said 5' V casing having a dial in line with said dial opening, means providing a series of coupons in said casing,,each having matter on'one'side thereof observable through said second opening when in line therewith and each having value indicia 40 on theother side thereof and electrically operable means associated with the clock for feeding i one coupon from the casing and feeding a second coupon into position in line with said second opening so as to be observable therethrough. 45 13. A device of the kinddescrioed embodying therein a casing having openings therein, a clock in said casing having a dial disposed in line with one of said openings, means providing a strip supply in said casing having matter disposed in coupon lengths, upon the obverse side thereof in a manner to register with other of said openings, said strip having value indicia upon the reverse side of said coupon lengths and means electrically operable associated withthe clock for feeding one coupon length from the casing and feeding a second coupon length into position in registry with said other of said openings.

14. A device of thekind described embodying V therein a casing having a plurality of openings therein, a certainone of which openings is for a clock dial, an electrically operated, mechanism in said casing, means providing a supply strip in said casing having matter on oneside thereof disposed incoupon lengths to register'with another of said openings, said strip having value indicia upon the other side of each coupon length and means driven by said electrically operable mechanism for feeding a coupon length from the casing through still another of said openings and 7e; feeding a successiveccoupon length of the strip intothe position previously occupied by thefirst mentioned one.

EDWARD PHILIPPI. 

